Photo courtesy of citizenjanefilm.com

Review by Whitney Sommers

Existence, directed by Juliet Bergh, tells the story of a woman, Freya, whose only agenda is just what the title suggests—to exist. With little food or resources Freya and her family are beginning to count their final days.

An electrically charged fence rules over what is left of a post-apocalyptic world in which they live, while the few people left struggle to survive. Armed men known as Boundary Riders patrol the miles of fencing and ensure no trespassers, while a toxic ocean prevents any form of an escape to the other side of the land.

Fleeing is virtually impossible. Freya is trapped. But she is certain that her purpose lies beyond the fence, and she is determined to get across no matter what it takes. In an act of desperation and a hope to escape her inevitable fate, she seduces a Rider she encounters while hunting. It seems to be the perfect plan, but the consequences are unexpected.

The drama presents a mood much like that of The Hunger Games. Lack of smiling faces combined with dull colors and clouded scenes add to its dreariness. Like the characters in Gary Ross’s film, Freya and her family are controlled by a force they cannot compete with while they try to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

Filmed in the overcast, mountainous beauty of New Zealand, Existence offers a scenic view for its audience amid a rather depressing and somewhat violent story. Like Freya and her family, the film had limited resources and relied heavily on its surroundings to make up for what it lacked in money.

Overall the film presents a story that will leave audience members both sympathetic while also evoking thought about hierarchies of power, the meaning of life, and what it means to exist.

Vox rating: VVVV

THE RATING SYSTEM

VVVVV = AWESOME! SEE IT TWICE
VVVV = DEFINITELY GO SEE IT
VVV = HMM… IT’S OKAY
VV = EH… DVD MAYBE?
V = DON’T BOTHER